News Release: Mobile Alternative Fueling Station Locator Now Available
Driving cross-country or even around town in an alternative fuel vehicle used to require drivers to do a little homework to find the nearest fueling station – but not anymore. Consumers on-the-go can now access the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Alternative Fueling Station Locator using their cell phone, BlackBerry, or other personal digital assistant (PDA).
The Mobile Alternative Fueling Station Locator allows drivers to find the five closest biodiesel, electricity, E85 (ethanol), hydrogen, natural gas, and propane fueling sites. This convenient tool uses well-known, easy-to-navigate Google Maps to automatically generate maps to fueling sites and lists each station’s contact information and business hours. Detailed driving directions and an instant phone connection to the station can all be accessed at www.afdc.energy.gov/stations/m/.
“Most drivers don’t realize alternative fuels are readily available in their areas, so the goal of the mobile station locator is to show them that alternative fueling sites are conveniently located,” says Dennis Smith, National Clean Cities director. “Mobile Internet access means consumers can find alternative fuel stations at their convenience, whenever and where ever they want.”
The mobile station locator is part of the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) Web site (www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc). It was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which manages the AFDC. The tool is sponsored by the Clean Cities initiative (www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities), a government-industry partnership sponsored by DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Program.
With almost 90 active coalitions and more than 5,400 stakeholders across the country, Clean Cities’ mission is to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector. The program promotes alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy measures, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction technologies.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.
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